January 2021
London will be overwhelmed by Covid 19 in 2 weeks says leaked NHS England briefing
HSJ reports London’s hospitals are less than two weeks from being overwhelmed by Covid 19 even under the ‘best’ case scenario, according to an official briefing given to the capital’s most senior doctors. NHS England London medical director Dr Vin Diwakar set out the stark analysis to the medical directors of London’s hospital trusts. The NHS England presentation, seen by HSJ, showed that even if the number of Covid 19 patients grew at the lowest rate considered likely, and measures to manage demand, including opening London’s Nightingale hospital, were successful, the NHS in London would be short of nearly 2,000 general and acute and intensive care beds by 19 January.